Fastening device.



Patented Aug. 20, IQDI.`

E. FW. HEFWBHEE. FASTENING DEVICE. (Appunmnn med Apr. 1o, 1901'.)

(No Model.)

Ninn gaarne aranci rrrcn,

ELIHUE M. IIEMBREE, OF ROSWELL, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM S. GUFFORD, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

FASTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,711, dated August 20, 1901. Application iiletl April 10, 1901- Seral No. 55,234. (No model.)

T all 1071/0112, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ELIHUE M. HEMBREE, a citizen of the United States, residing and having my post-office address at Roswell, in the county of Cobb and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to fastening devices for shoes, boots, leggings, gloves, corsets, and other articles of wearing-apparel, the object in view being to provide a fastening device in the nature of a lacing by means of which the article to which the fastening device is applied may be quickly fastened and unfastened.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the elements of the fastening device that the lacing-cord will automatically and freely adjust itself to the shape of that portion of the body to which the article of Wearing-apparel is applied, thus compensating for any inequalities in the body and producing an even strain and tension on the lacing-cord at every point throughout its length, thus not only adding materially to the comfort of the wearer, but increasing the life of the lacing-cord and fastening device as a whole. Further, the lacing-cord is so associated with the other elements of the fastening device that when said cord is released or untied the pressure of the body will serve to force apart automatically the adjacent edges of the article to which the fastening device is connected, thus enabling the article to be instantly removed.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe with the improved fastening deviceapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the upper portion of a shoe, showing the manner of fastening the ends of the lacing-cord. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section through the meeting edges of a shoe or other article, showing the fastening device applied. Fig. fi is a detail perspective view of one of the eyelets. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing the manner of fastening the eyelet to one of the meeting edges to be fastened. Fig. G is a detail perspective view of a slightly-modified form of eyelet. Fig. 'is a detail section showing the manner of securing the eyelet shown in Fig. i6. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the eye-links.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the application of the improved fastening device to a shoe, in which l designates the meeting edges of the upper or leg portion of the shoe. Applied to the meeting edges l at intervals in the length thereof are a series of eyelets 2, the said eyelets being arranged in oppositely-located pairs to receive a lacing-cord 3, which is first led through a pair of ordinary eyelets 1i, arranged near the shoe-upper, as shown in Fig. l. Each of the eyelets 2 comprises a shank 5, adapted to overlie one of the meeting edges 1 and provided at one end with an enlargement or disk-shaped portion 6, having perip'herallyarranged barbs or prongs 7, which are adapted to be driven through one of the meeting edges and clenched upon the opposite side of the material in a manner which will be readily understood for securely holding the eyelet in place. The shank 5 at its opposite end is formed into an eye 8, the opposite end portions of which are preferably splayed or bellshaped, so as to facilitate the reeving of the lacing-cord therethrough and the easy sliding or running of said cord through the eyes during the operation of drawing the cord taut or slaclrening the same.

Instead of providing the eyelet with the prongs 7, as just described, the enlarged portion 6 of the eyelet may be centrally punched, as shown at 9, which punched portion is then inserted through one of the edges to be fastened and clenched upon the opposite side of the material, as shown at in Fig. 7.

In addition to the eyelets hereinabove described I also employ an eye-link 1l of sufficient size to enable both end portions of the lacing-cord to be simultaneously reeved therethrough and to slide freely baclr and forth.

IOC)

The eye-links Il are preferably splayed at their opposite ends or made bell-shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 8, in order to facilitate free running of the cord, and in some cases it is desirable to provide the eye-links 1I with oppositely-located lips 12, adapted to be bent over the body of an ornament, which may be in the form of a bow or a pair of tassels, as indicated at 13, the said lips l2 being clenched upon the body of the ornament, so as to securely fasten the same to the eye-link, as may be readily understood from Fig. 8.

The manner of reeving the lacing-cord is as follows: The cord is first passed through the ordinary eyelets 4, and the end portions of the lacing-cord are then passed through the eyes of the lowermost pair of eyelets 2, after which and without crossing them they are reeved through one of the eye-links 1l and led onward through the next pair of eyelets 2. After passing through the second pair of eyelets the ends of the lacing-cord are crossed and carried, respectively, to the opposite sides of the gap or opening between the meeting edges l, where they are led through the next pair of eyelets. The end portions of the cord are then led without crossing` through another eye-link 11 and through the next pai r of eyelets. This method of lacing is followed out until the end portions of the lacing-cord are reeved through the last pair of eyelets, when the ends of the cord may be drawn taut and tied with any usual form of knot. It is, however, preferred after passing the ends of the cord through the last pair of eyelets 2 to pass them through a supplemental and terminal eye-link, (indicated at 14,) which is held upon the lacingcord and prevented from escaping by providing the end portions of the cord with terminal stops l5, which may consist simply of knots tied therein, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In drawing the ends of the cord taut the terminal link la is moved into close proximity to the last pair of eyelets, and it is then only necessary to make a bow-knot without the usual half-hitch, so that in subsequent untying of the lacing-cord it is only necessary to pull on one or the other end of the cord, which will release the fastening device and allow the meeting edges to move apart under the expansive action of the foot and ankle or other part of the body to which the apparel containing the fastening device is applied.

It will be seen that by means of the method of reeving hereinabove described the lacingcord is crossed only at a few points, and this fact greatly increases the ease wit-h which the cord runs through the several eyelets and eye-links forming elements of the fastening device. The arrangement also enables the fastening device to accommodate itself readcsomi ily to inequalities in the foot or other portion of the body and renders the article to which the fastening device is applied more comfortable in use. In addition to this the life of the fastening device as a whole is materially increased.

By the arrangement shown and described the lacing-cord is contained at all times between the meeting edges of the shoe or other article, and the projection or offsetting of the lacing-cord outside of the shoe or other garment is thus avoided. This serves as a protection for the lacing-cord and prevents the same from being exposed and subjected to the rubbing or chafing action of any objects with which the cord might otherwise come in injurious contact.

It will be understood that the improved fastening device hereinabove described is applicable to various articles of Wearing-apparel wherever it is necessary to adjust and hold together oppositely located meeting edges. I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the particular use or uses of the fastening device hereinabove set forth and accordingly reserve the right to make such changes in the form, proportion, and minor details as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be securedV by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fastening device, the combination with two members to be fastened, and a series of eyelets secured in pairs thereto, and projecting over the edges thereof, of a lacing-cord reeved through said eyelets and crossed between each alternate pair of eyelets, and iiattened links through which the uncrossed portions of the cord are passed having means for clasping an ornament, said links being loosely held by the cords.

2. In a fastening device, the combination with two members to be fastened, and series of eyelets secured to the adjacent edges thereof in pairs, of a lacing-cord reeved through said eyelets and crossed between each alternate pair of eyelets, eye-links embracing the uncrossed portions of the cord intermediate the crossed portions thereof having lips for clasping an ornament, the end portions of the lacing-cord being provided with stops, and a terminal eye-link embracing the end portions of the lacing-cord between the stops and the end eyelets.

1n testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIHUE M. IIEMBREE.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. FREGH, H. SCHMIDT.

IIO 

